The Red Sox announced this afternoon they’ve selected reliever Tyler Danish to the big league roster. In order to open space on the 40-man roster, seven-time All-Star Chris Sale has been placed on the 60-day injured list.
Danish, 27, will be returning to the majors for the first time in four years. A former second-round pick of the White Sox, he suited up for the South Siders each season from 2016-18. He only tallied 13 innings during that time, allowing seven runs with 11 strikeouts against 13 walks. Chicago outrighted him off the 40-man roster in September 2018. The right-hander went on to spend time in the Mariners and Angels systems on minor league deals but didn’t make it to the big leagues with either club.
Despite not seeing any MLB time in Orange County, Danish had a nice 2021 campaign in the Angels system. He worked 70 1/3 innings over 32 appearances, frequently pitching multiple innings out of the bullpen. Along the way, he posted a 3.84 ERA while striking out an impressive 26.8% of opponents against a minuscule 5.1% walk percentage. That earned Danish a non-roster invite to big league Spring Training with the Red Sox. He’s thrown six innings of one-run ball during exhibition play, evidently impressing Sox brass along the way.
To make room for Danish, Boston officially rules out their ace until at least early June. It’s a disappointing but not especially surprising development. Sale was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his rib in mid-March, an injury that was always expected to keep him from throwing for weeks. The southpaw has still yet to begin throwing, and he’ll need plenty of time between when he first picks up a ball and when he’s ready for big league action.
Sale will need weeks to build arm strength via a throwing program, then he’ll assuredly have to embark upon a minor league rehab assignment. Given that timetable, it makes sense the Boston front office didn’t consider it possible for him to make it back for a couple months. With Sale out, the Red Sox look likely to open the season with a rotation of Nathan Eovaldi, Nick Pivetta, Tanner Houck, Rich Hill and Michael Wacha. Danish and Kutter Crawford — who was informed this morning he’d be on the Opening Day roster (link via Ian Browne of MLB.com) — are on hand as swing options.
{Related: view the transcript of Danish’s February chat with MLBTR readers}
Out til at least June.
Thanks. We can read.
Things can be posted before updates people!
“To make room for Danish” …. well done, Tony!
I heard he’s out until June
Will Sale be opting out after this season? My guess is no.
If sale goes 12-0 with a 1.06 era, and then the leads the Red Sox to a strong postseason run and World Series win, he might opt out. Chances are slim but never say never.
Gary = That’s a great point. Also, Sale might want to opt out just to get away from Cora’s bad managing. The guy spent nearly a decade playing for Verntura and Farrell without issues. He gets Cora as manager has his IL stints happen way more than ever. Heck Cora resting him in July of 2018 was the beginning of the end for Sale. Sale didn’t want to hit the IL if you watched the post game interview where Cora announced it. Check out Sale’s face in the background of that interview with Cora. Clearly, he thought it was unnecessary. Clearly, it pissed him off from a pitching perspective that this bench jockey was not letting him pitch when he felt fine. The 12 Ks in 5 inning game where Cora pulled him had to be one of the most aggravating experiences he’s ever had in baseball.
Sale should opt out no matter what just to find a team where the manager has a clue and let’s him pitch like he did successfully before Cora.
If he’s healthy and unencumbered by Cora he’ll be fine. Hopefully some smart GM will see what’s happened and contact him about opting out. It wouldn’t shock me if the Mets did it. deGrom, Sale, Scherzer isn’t a bad top three even if they only stay healthy for 4 months a year, I’d go to the park to watch each of them pitch!!!
Surprised as this conflicts with what he just said on how he felt. Red Sox regretting this contract in the long list of contract regrets.
If they didn’t learn with Price, hopefully they will learn with Sale. Might be why they let E-Rod go.
Perhaps, but they signed Sale for twice as much money and have been kicking themselves ever since! It wouldn’t be good business judgment to let regret over the Sale signing to influence the decision on a different player, but sometimes that’s how decisions are made.
Although Sale is a better pitcher than Price. I’m usually with you on big contracts not working out but this is one rare gamble I would have made. Sale is a gamer and a winner when healthy. I’m glad we paid him even if it hasn’t fully worked out. Can’t say the same about other big contracts.
Pedey – Most everyone on the planet knew Sale wasn’t physically right after overthrowing in the 2018 All-Star Game. He finished the regular season pitching just 29 innings over the final 11 weeks while dealing with all sorts of health issues, including his BS “belly button ring infection” in October. He also got raked in the postseason (yeah I know, he always does)..
IIRC he made just ONE very short start in 2019 ST before getting the extension. Everyone was wondering why he signed so quickly and seemingly took less than what a healthy Chris Sale was worth. I’m no Dombrowski hater, but he was an absolute moron to offer that extension instead of waiting until at least the All-Star break to see if Sale could hold up physically after everything he went through the prior year.
And “winners” don’t have a 6.35 ERA and 1.441 WHIP in 10 postseason games.
@Fever Pitch Guy By winner I meant that Sale pitches well most of the time (albeit a few bad starts here and there). Additionally, when he fails, he owns up to it.
This is a guy that screamed at his players to get in the game in the 18 World Series. He does more than just pitch. His character goes a long way.
Did we sign him for too much? Probably. But you can’t predict he’d get injured at the time. That’s just unfair to place blame there especially when he was healthy for so long.
He might be expensive but he has much better charisma than Price ever had.
@Fever Pitch Guy
So Kershaw isn’t a winner? What about all the other spectacular players who have done well except for a small sample size of games?
You still take talent at its value, not what happens in a small portion of games.
“cant predict he’d get injured at the time”
I remember 2018 a bit differently. Sale was injuried that season and never pitched more than 5 innings after August. There was talk that he would probably need arm surgery at some point. Yet, just a few months later, DD signed him to that big contract anyway.
Yes, you could predict it and it was by several people.
I honestly forgot that scenario. My bad there. Didn’t think it went like that but apparently it did.
Fever: I agree that Dombrowski pulled the trigger too quickly on the Sale extension. I was surprised he did it so quickly because there was no need to do it. I think he may have received some bad medical info on Sale because he seemed so sure Sale was healthy.
Pedey – I agree with you on the Price comparison. Price was a very intelligent guy who was also very thin-skinned and controversial. Sale was controversial too in his younger days, but he matured whereby Price didn’t.
Pedey – Kershaw has a career 1.07 postseason WHIP and respectable 4.19 ERA so I don’t see the comparison.
Some players thrive under the pressure of big game situations, others choke.
Schilling, Lester, Ortiz … there’s a reason why their teams won so many championships. They were huge when it really counted.
Marvin – Right on, you nailed it.
suit – Yes of course Dombrowski relied on his medical staff, but ultimately it was his decision to make. There’s no doubt in my mind Sale did everything he could to cover up his health issues with the medical staff.
Fever Pitch Guy
Price was a very intelligent guy who was also very thin-skinned and controversial.
================================
I almost never rely on the race card, but there is at least some chance that Price’s problem was that he blew up on a white guy, in defense of one of his teammates.
Just imho, I think Price is a standup guy.
ERod had a routine spot on the DL before the mydocondriatus (spelling). Sure, the team thought his knee was fixed for good from going out again, but 80m for a guy, who had put together 1 full/solid season and during it, there were the always lapses where he would look lost on the mound for several games at a time? Don’t think so.. Wise choice allowing him to move down the road.
No doubt the Cora injury hurt ERod’s development, but the dude finished 6th in 2019 Cy voting while tying for the most starts in the league. He more than proved himself before Covid.
The Sox never even made him an offer, other than extending the QO. He probably would have stayed for $70M.
@Fever Pitch Guy
I find it hilarious how you imply Sale is overrated but say we should pay more for ERod who is not anywhere near as good.
Pedey – Where did I say Sale was overrated? He is a better version of David Price, a great regular season pitcher who has a history of fading in September and October.
Where did I say we should pay more for ERod than Sale? I would have given ERod $70M, that’s nowhere close to what Sale is making.
FPG – E-Rod stinks. Read his ERA and WHIP IN ANY YEAR.
Your are being ridiculous these days!! His 6th was a joke. It wasn’t legitimate. The pitching in baseball was so bad that year a guy with an ERA over 3.8 and a WHIP over 1.3 got A VOTE for Cy Young. That should never happen.
Thank goodness E-ROD is blowing up for Detroit this year not in Boston!!!
They were trying to learn from Jon Lester.
Gary – Lester was a totally different situation though. He was a workhorse, perfectly healthy and a postseason hero for the Sox.
ERod sucked that is why he is gone
AMEN!!
Would you rather have Kopech and Moncada back, or the world series title?
Moncada’s overrated. They had him marked as a future Hall of Famer. He still strikes out way too much and he’s inconsistent. I’ll always take a title.
I think it largely depends on who the Sox would have acquired instead of Sale. He wasn’t a major contributor in 2018 and they coasted to 108 wins and a title, so they probably would have still won with a decent alternative to Sale.
FPG – Gibberish. Nothing wrong with Sale fire the idiot manager.
Are they? He helped them win a WS so probably not as much as you think they are.
Both of the team’s last two championship teams had regrettable contracts on them. While that doesn’t make them not regrettable, the “long list” makes them sound like something defining the team’s recent history. Sure, I’d have taken fewer mistakes, but I’m perfectly satisfied with that recent history!
His ship has sailed. Time for him to retire.
That’s a little melodramatic. He’s 33, and this rib thing is totally separate from his previous elbow problems
They know he’s good for half a season. They’re choosing to go with the second half rather than half a season in the middle somewhere. May through August or something like that.
Pirateking – Sale’s been handcuffed in the dungeon since Cora took over as manager. I say free the prisoner and let him go back to being a top 5 SP in baseball without Cora. Either fire Cora or trade Sale. It’s not fair to Sale. He doesn’t care about the money. He just wants to pitch with his hair on fire and no idiot manager telling him to lower his velocity to extend his outing or the other classic by Cora, having him rest more during the season.
Cora is a fundamentally lazy individual with no idea what star athletes are like. When JD had to sit when he arrived in Boston he was angry. When Sale went from working with Farrell who understood pitching to a highly opinionated know nothing manager like Cora he did his best team face and went along with him. Look where that’s gotten him. It’s ruined his career!!
gotta feel good for Danish. he’s really revived his career since the rough stint he had in Tacoma.
Yeah only up for a cup of coffee with White Sox
Darkside- don’t feel too good for Danish as in a couple week when rosters drop from 28 to 26 he will most likely be sent to AAA or DFA. It will probably be a DFA if the Red Sox need the 40-man spot for Hansen Robles.
Sale is a future HOFer. His career is plagued by injuries unfortunately now due to his wind up and delivery. Similar stats to King Felix. Both should get in
Sale needs at least 2 more full, dominant seasons to punch his ticket to Cooperstown. He has lost 2 full seasons to injuries since signing his extension with Boston. Those missed seasons will hurt his chances at making the HOF.
If Sale is able to come back in late May or early June and pitch like he’s capable of, I’d be shocked if he decides to opt out of his contract. Sale is a guy who feels badly about his injuries and for getting paid big money to rehab. I think he’ll feel like he owes it to Boston to honor the rest of contract, but you never know with these professional athletes and their agents these days. Sale certainly says all the right things; it will be interesting to see what he does if he gets back to his all-star self this season.
I agree completely except the HoF argument. Worry about the things you can control. If he has a chance and gets in, great. If not, he will still be remembered.
Agreed. I would not be so concerned with this injury. It will be completely forgotten when he starts 20 games with 14 K’s per 9 and a whip under 1.00 with a fresh arm going down the stretch. I am a White Sox fan but Chris Sale (along with Mark Buehrle) are the 2 players that, when they left, I followed every single start. Its unfortunate his string of bad luck the past couple years but there is no denying that when he is on the mound there is nobody you would rather have.
This is not an arm issue. He will take care of it, come back and strikeout 10 hitters in 5 innings his first start back. Bookmark this post
Hey man, Danish chatted with us!
That was sweet
That arm is dead. Poor Sale, poor BOS
LOL. He’ll be back. He’s got a long contract with the Sox so he’ll appear again.
Also he’s only one guy out of 26 or 28. I would say “poor Boston” only if they couldn’t absorb the loss of one of 26.
This isn’t an arm injury though…
I came for the Danish puns and … nothing. Step it up, guys.
Why no sweetness
I heard he’s got that cheese
That is a surprising move to me. They could have used that spot for Shaw, Robles, Shaw, Sanchez or Cordero. Danish would have been fine with a minor league open to the season. Wonder how they will add the last bench spot now…
Wonder when the 60 days begins?
Sorry posted this when it said, “more to come”. Thought they might have back dated it.
The 60 days was NOT retroactive
This will be the fifth straight year that Sale is hampered by injury in one form or another. Going back to his early days with the White Sox, scouts said his lanky frame and violent delivery would lead injuries. They were right and it’s wild to see that he hasn’t changed anything all these years later
Ronk – You nailed it, he won’t last long with that same build and violent delivery. A thick torso and big strong legs are vital to power pitchers who throw the way he does.
Even Pedro, he was only 13 pounds lighter than Sale despite being 7 inches shorter!
Sale should take it upon himself to bulk up a bit but I also don’t understand how the Red Sox haven’t pushed him to do so either. A guy his size should be able to add 20 pounds of muscle within a year just by following a basic weight lifting routine
Would muscle help though? If anything, carrying more weight on the frame would increase pressure on various joints (legs and arms) and potentially increase injuries. One could make the argument that weight training among baseball players has contributed to certain injuries – after all, it’s a sport as much about well-controlled motions than it is about pure strength, and with how many reps a player puts up over the course of a year having to do so with more weight flinging around can add up!
If we were talking about a guy who already has decent mass on him I could see what you mean. When we’re talking about a guy like Sale with sponge bob arms, he could definitely stand to add some bulk. Mechanical changes would help as well but at 33 years old, I don’t see Sale making any major changes if he hasn’t already
It’s unfortunate to see Sale out, but nice to see some new blood with Crawford & Danish.
Crawford looked very nice this ST didn’t he? Seemed the location and command was there for all 3 pitches every game i saw him in and it’ll need to be for his “just” low 90’s FB to work at the MLB level.
What impressed me today, was how sharp Houck was.. 7k’s, only Sano really hit him good. The Kellner HR on 3-1 count should have been 2-2 when Houck threw the fb down middle next pitch.. Ump blew the 2-1 call big time, he was sharp and in command, even his splitter was good thru 6IP.
We will obviously not be as good without Sale, but I am not overly concerned. I’d bet that any individual SP has a 100ERA+. In 2021:
Eovaldi +126
Pivetta +104
Houck +135
Hill +103
Wacha was the only one below 100, but he also had a 3.20 in his final 8 games.
Sale and Paxton firing on all cylinders at the end of the season? Yes, please. We’ll see.
The trade isn’t the regret, the extension was/is a big one though.
Agreed. The trade was mission accomplished. Heck, the extension wouldn’t have even been so bad had it come at the expiration of his prior deal. Extending him early when there were long-term concerns was the kicker!
If Straily makes the D’backs then its proof MLBTR chats are good luck charms
Power pitchers have such short shelf life. Really miss pitchers like Maddux and Greinke.
I was always surprised that Sale lasted as long as he did before blowing out his elbow. His delivery is a red flag for anyone to see. The extension was a mistake. He will have already made 90m by the end of this season. Has so far started nine games throwing 42 innings total.
Man, the mumblings or of the White Sox system was always that Sales’ mechanics were violent and awkward and had a very high probability of leading to serious injury. They really got a great deal out of the Red Sox.
bigpooky – Hey buddy you set off my horse crap alarm with your comment. There was no such thing in the White Sox organization. You made it up. Feel free to provide a retraction to your lie or maybe add a link to prove it’s the truth so we can all see the source you are quoting.
Anyone can look at his mechanics and guess something might happen eventually but his velocity was fine when he arrived and Farrell had no issues with him. This is all on Cora and his misuse of elite pitchers. It’s not a coincidence he ruined both Price and Sale. He’s a horrible manager who “THINKS” he knows what he is doing but is wrong when it comes to pitching.
Bigpooky – Sale has a World Series ring. Kopech and Moncada do not. I’d make that trade again tomorrow